Paper folding machine



Aug, 16, 1932. J. MENTGES PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1925 Swuewf 01,

61m 1 v n1 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES JonN MENTGES, or SIDNEY, OHIO, ASSIGNOB, BY Mnsrrs assiemunnrs, 'ro DEXTER FOLDER COMPANY, or new YORK, n. 3. a ooaroaerloiv-or NEW YORK PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Application filed my 14.,

This invention relates to machines for folding paper after it is printed, and its main object is to provide a machine adapted to make the second fold in a way best suited to the matter printed on the paper. i In describing my invention 1 shall refer to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View of a folding machine embodying my invention;

, Fig. 2 is a plan View of the principal novel part of the machine, and

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the same part.

Referring to Fig. 1, rollers 10, the

1 folder blade 11 and arm 12, the latter mounted to rock on the axis 13, constitute the principal parts of a well known type of paper folding mechanism, it being understood that the rollers 101O rotate in the direction of the arrows, and that periodically the arm 12 is rocked downward and the blade pushes the center of a sheet of paper into the bite of the rolls 1010. The paper is carried to the proper position by tapes l e-14, and arrested in the proper position, all in the usual way. For convenience I shall refer to this folding mechanism as folder A, or the first fold mechanism.

Below and a little to the right of folder A there is another folder, which for convenience I shall refer toas folder B or a second fold mechanism. This folder. which is also of a well known type, comprises three rolls, indicated by numerals 20, 21 and 22, respectively, arranged to rotate in the direction indicated by arrows. It is unnecessary to 'describe the action of this folder, further than to say that a paper entering between rollers and 21 will become folded and pass out of the folder between rollers 21 and 22, and that the surface which faces roller 20 in entering the folder becomes the inside surface when the paper is folded. At the left of the folder A, there is another second fold mechanism, which I shall refer to as the left hand 1925. Serial No. 0,149.

folder is. This s a duplicate of the right nisms, at'the option of the operator, I provide a guide 30. In Fig. 1 this guide is set to direct the papers to the left handfolder B. It is obvious that a paper issuing from.

the folder A will slide down-the inclined side of the guide and enter the bite of the rolls 20 and 21. If the. guide be inclined in the opposite direction the'paper will slide down its opposite side and enter the right hand folder B; The guide is made tubular,f so

that if papers are to receive onlyone fold the guide may be set-in a vertical position, allowing papers issuing-from the'folder A to pass through the guide and pass between the second fold mechanism. Below the'folding mechanisms is a stacker 31, which may be of any desired type, and I provide a chute 32 with flaring sides 33 to carry the papers to the stacker, whether they pass directly thereto from folder A, or pass through one of the folders B.

The construction of the guide 30 is best seen in Figs. 2 and 8. The guide comprises two plates 35, each having formed integrally therewith. a spacing member '36, which serves as one end' of the guide. Secured to each of the end members, 36 isa shaft 37, which, beingjournaled in the frame of the machine, fragments of which are shown at 38 and 39, serve as trunnions for supporting the'guide. An arm 40 is secured to one end shaft 37 and carries at its free end a stud 41 adapted to enter one of three holes 42 bored in the frame 38. A compression spring 43 pushesthe guide and its trunnions endwise and keeps the stud 41 in the proper sired position. To change the guide to another position it is only necessary to pull it endwise, rock it to the new position and enter the stud in the hole 42 belonging to that position.

It will now be seen that my invention in cludes not only the novel guide whereby papers are directed to one of three positions, but it also includes the novel arrangement of well known folders, whereby a new and useful function is obtained. My invention a is not limited in its scope to a machine using the particular type of folding mechanisms shown. I have used these folders in my present illustration merely because they lend themselves well to the purpose? I believe I am the first to place two folding mechanisms in opposed relationshipfso that papers may be fed to one foldero'r the other from a single point, and whereby said "papers will be folded one 'way'in one folder and the opposite way in the other folder.

What I claim as my invention is as fol- ;lowsr' i 1.. In a folding machine, folding mechanism, a sheet guide comprising separately formed juxtaposed plates on and between which sheets may be guided in different directions from the folding mechanism in accordance with different operative positions which the guide may occupy with respect to cured, trunnions formed on the spacing means, bearings on the folding machine frame receiving the trunnions and providing for rotary and longitudinal shifting movements of the guide from one of said positions to another, a spring positioned on oneof the trunnions between the guide and one side of the frame and normally urging the guide toward the opposite side of said frame, and means for rotating and shifting the guide as aforesaid and having means for locki sai g id mi 'xdilfeint bterative p s t en said folding mechanism, spacing means formed on one end of each plate and to which the opposite end of the adjacent plate is secured, and means for moving the guide from 1 one of said positions to another.

'2. In a. folding machine, folding mechanism, a sheet guide comprising separately formed juxtaposed plates on and between which sheets may be guided in diflerent directions from the folding mechanism in accordance with different operative positions which the guide may occupywith respect to said, folding mechanism, spacing means formed on one end ofeachplate and to which the opposite end of theadjacent plate is secured, trunnions on the spacing means, bearings receiving the trunnions and providing for rotary and longitudinal shifting movements of the guide from one of said positions to another, and means on one of said trunnions for rotating and shifting the guide longitudinally as aforesaid.

3. In a folding machine, folding mechanism, a sheet guide comprising separately formed juxtaposed plates on and'between .JQ NMENTQE which sheets may be guided in different di- 7 rections from the folding mechanism in accordance with dlfl'erent operatlve positions which the guide may occupy with respect to. said folding mechanlsm, spacing means 

